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Hendriks' three shutout innings pace Twins

Right-hander fans two, allows four hits; Morneau drives in three runs

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By Rhett Bollinger

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Right-hander Liam Hendriks tossed three scoreless innings and Justin Morneau drove home three runs to help the Twins secure a 7-1 win over the Orioles on Thursday at Hammond Stadium.

Hendriks, who was making his second start of the spring and is competing for a spot in Minnesota's rotation, gave up four hits and struck out two. He improved his ERA to 1.80 ERA in five Grapefruit League innings.

"It was good," Hendriks said. "I threw some first-pitch curveballs for strikes, which is always nice. I went out there and felt a lot better than last time. The ball was coming out good and I got ahead of some guys and it was a lot better."

He fared much better than Orioles right-hander Jair Jurrjens, who lasted just one inning and surrendered three runs on two hits and three walks. It was the second start of the spring for Jurrjens, who is competing for a spot in Baltimore's rotation after joining the club on a Minor League deal.

"My timing today was way off," said Jurrjens, who said it was a combination of things, including flying open in his delivery, that lead to three walks. "Yes, [it's] a mechanics issue. I think I have been having bad habits for a couple of years, I just got to figure out how to get the good habits back, the good timing. Get that feel back."

Morneau had the big hit in the opening frame against Jurrjens with a bases-clearing double with one out. He was only credited with two RBIs on the play, as second baseman Yamaico Navarro was charged with a throwing error.

Minnesota added two more runs in the third with Josh Willingham plating a run on an RBI double before Morneau brought home Willingham with a single off left-hander Mike Belfiore.

The Twins scored again in the fourth against Orioles prospect Kevin Gausman, who was the club's first-round pick in last year's First-Year Player Draft. Joe Mauer brought home the run on his second hit of the game.

Eduardo Escobar later added a sacrifice fly for the Twins in the sixth inning off right-hander Zach Clark to score Brian Dozier.

Xavier Avery drove in Baltimore's run with a ninth-inning sacrifice fly.

Twins up next: The Twins are making the trek across the state to play the Marlins in Jupiter on Friday at 1:05 p.m. ET at Roger Dean Stadium. Right-hander Vance Worley, who was acquired in the trade that sent Ben Revere to Philadelphia, is scheduled to make his second start of the spring for the Twins. Right-hander Henderson Alvarez is slated to start for the Marlins.